A/n: I'm going to be heading out to a national competition on Sunday, so I won't be updating for eight days while I'm away. I'm going to try and make sure I update as soon as I get home (if I have another chapter written by then); I don't want to leave you hanging too too long, so in the meantime I hope this satisfies…

Chapter Nine: The Fall of the Final Pillar

The minute Caldar was in the dreamscape, he pictured Mala and began to run forward, right into the throne room, right in the way of Mala's path to Umi. He didn't think, just drew a fiery sword he'd pictured in his mind and lunged at her. Mala shrieked and jumped away, throwing a sloppily aimed ball of water his way.

"How did you get free?" she hissed, but Caldar just stared at her calmly, refusing to give an answer. "Is your father here?"

"I suppose you'd like to know that," he responded calmly, neither angry nor amused, simply stone faced. Fuu complimented his style even in the heat of battle. This man was clearly a good ally to have, whoever he was. And Mala seemed to know him; did she ask if he'd gotten free? Free from where?

Mala sneered and shook her head, "No, I don't care frankly; if he is free, I'll just kill him like I killed his son."

Click. Fuu nodded to Caldar, and he nodded back; she knew who he was, there wouldn't be any trouble for him.

Umi simply stared at the back of the man who had intercepted Mala, literally breaking the connection between the woman's hands and her neck. His voice was calm and powerful, the absolute picture of authority, and a strange stirring twisted in her stomach. For some reason, she felt herself drawn to this man, aching to see his face, wondering what it could be that drew her, afraid and excited of the attraction all at the same time.

Mala leapt forward, feigning attack at Caldar, then spun and lobbed an illusion spell at the unsuspecting Hikaru who was immediately drawn into the game.

"Umi-san!" Fuu screamed, and Hikaru shook her head. There she was, facing Mala, Umi in her grips. She drew her sword and was about to launch herself at Mala when she realized that there was someone missing. That mysterious stranger, where had he gone? She looked around her, searching, but there was no one.

"Where'd he go?"

"Hikaru-san! Quickly!" Fuu shouted at her as Mala choked the life out of Umi.

"No," Hikaru whispered, "This can't be real."

"Hikaru!" Fuu shrieked, unable to move. "She's going to kill Umi-san!"

Hikaru shook her head and let her sword be sucked into her ovum, "I'm sorry Fuu-chan, Umi-chan," she made herself look into Umi's blue eyes that had glazed over for lack of oxygen. "I know this isn't real," she began to chant to herself, "I know this isn't real. I know this is not real!"

Hikaru threw her eyes opened and glared viciously at Mala, who was beside herself in worry. The Knights were not taking her Tests! How could this be?

"They won't take them Mala, they love their country too much," Caldar answered her unspoken question in a cool monotone.

"Who are you?" Umi murmured almost to herself while she dredged through her mind for some kind of clue to the strange mystery.

Caldar tried not to wince, but the slight shock that entered his eyes at her cruel words gave Mala the upper hand for a second.

"Does it hurt you Caldar? That she doesn't remember? Does it make you regret your decisions?"

"She isn't the same girl that I entered exile for," Caldar sparred serenely, building mental defenses to whatever Mala would fling at him next.

"No, she isn't, that girl was the one who bore you a child and then took her own life in grief, isn't that right?"

There were no defenses that could have prepared him for what she said though, and shock and an intense grief immediately swarmed into his golden eyes.

"Oh!" Mala laughed gleefully, bringing her hands together and jumping like a child who'd just opened a very coveted Christmas present, "You didn't know that? You didn't know that the current Prince of Cephiro is your great-great grandson? I'm so glad to have taught you something new!"

Fuu reeled and took a step back, so this man was related to Ferio? She should have assumed it, but somehow she didn't. He didn't act like Ferio at all; he was reserved and quiet, calm and collected, he was more like Clef than her Prince. Still, those amber eyes were the same, and even in Cephiro, she'd come to learn that only royalty had amber eyes.

Caldar choked on the information, and Mala used that second of faltering against him, closing her eyes and materializing behind him and Umi, grabbing the Water Knight by her hair. Umi tried to spin, but Mala had a good hold of her by then, and she was left to swing blindly with a useless sword. "But you still love her, all the same, don't you?" Mala stroked one long finger down Umi's cheek as Umi made a stab at biting her. Caldar simply stared in fury and horror, trying in vain to hide it all under a mask that had been thoroughly shattered. It was bad enough that she killed herself, but to kill herself and leave an orphan in her wake? He had never thought of her like that, so weak and helpless, much like the newer version of her was now. Yet, he did still love her, even though what was in Mala's grip wasn't exactly her. There was still the same aura encircling her, a watery, passionate blue, stubborn and proud, yet silent and reserved. He clenched his fists and took a deep breath.

"I'll show you to my father if you let her go."

Mala immediately dropped her hold on Umi, who turned as quick as lightning and instinctively ran the enemy through.

The former Pillar's eyes snapped open in surprise and anguish as the blade of the Water Knight found her heart. Fuu wrapped a protective barrier around Umi just as Mala tried to cast a final spell on her friend, and Hikaru unleashed her powerful fire arrow, finishing off what Umi had started.

Blood dripped down Mala's battered corpse before it was incinerated; a dark black blood, something sickly and unnatural, and Umi turned her head, barely keeping the contents of her stomach in.

When it was over, the room was completely silent until Caldar approached the shaken Umi and offered a hand to her, "I'm Prince Caldar; and we…"

Umi stopped him by throwing herself into his arms, "Thank you, so much," she whispered before her eyes welled with tears and she couldn't speak anymore.

Hesitantly, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close; barely able to breathe through tears himself. If only…he stopped the thought to enjoy the moment. He had been waiting almost four thousand years for this day, when the love of his life would be safely in his arms again, and the Pillar of Cephiro was no more. He'd begun to think it would never come to be, and now that it had, he wasn't able to think of much of anything except to stay still, with her in his arms, feasting on the sweetness of his success.

Fuu and Hikaru watched in a strange trance, somewhere between overwhelmed and elated. The enemy was dead, and Cephiro was at peace, but who was this strange man, and what did it mean for Umi?

"Ascot," Hikaru murmured, and Fuu nodded, but neither had any desire to break up the strange moment.

The only thing that stirred the two was when the entire throne room began to crumble, and Caldar knew they had to escape before Mala's world collapsed with them inside it. He looked back to the two other Magic Knights, itching to grab Umi's hand, but knowing he couldn't, "Imagine the Palace of Cephiro and run forward, don't let anything else into your head."

Fuu and Hikaru nodded, and Umi smiled weakly as all three closed their eyes, pictured the shining Palace of Cephiro and began to sprint forward. The last thing to be taken from Mala's world was the evil throne, and with it, all the threat of her reign had ended.

Umi flicked her eyes open and smiled. They were back, the enemy was defeated, and everything was finally okay again. She sighed heavily and leaned by to stretch, but realized there was a heavy weight against her chest. She cocked her head slightly and looked down, only to see Ascot was lying there, just regaining consciousness, "Oh my God," she whispered and pulled on his shoulders, so he shook his head and looked up at her, eyes full of confusion and disorientation. "What happened? Ascot? What's wrong?" she questioned as Fuu and Hikaru turned to look at her, their excitement sliding off their faces.

Why is she…Caldar stopped mid-thought and realized that, though he had taken his own form in Mala's world, here he was still in someone else's body. He groaned inwardly and forced himself to sit up even though Umi's hands against his arms warmed blood that had been cold for years. "I…uh…"

"Knights," Clef strode into the room, and Caldar nodded at him.

"Right on time."

The Guru smiled faintly and then turned his attention back to the three girls, "I assume, because you are back slightly early, that you were successful?"

Three head bobs and a few joyous shouts later, Clef slammed his staff on the ground and quieted them, "That's very good; I can already feel my health returning to me; whatever evil in Cephiro has passed, for now."

"What do you mean, for now?" Umi huffed, swelling up and glaring at him indignantly. "What else do you have up your sleeve, shorty?"

Clef sighed heavily and forced himself to take the insult with no comment, "I believe, Water Knight, that that would be most appropriately explained by Prince Caldar."

"So that was who he was," Fuu mumbled to herself, and Clef smiled at her cleverness even though the other two were sending him blank stares. "That strange man, who saved you Umi-san," Fuu explained quickly, and Umi's eyes widened in remembrance. Yes, that strange man, he was a Prince? But how could that be? And why did she feel so drawn to him?

Caldar cleared his throat, and all three girls were thrown back into reality, "I uh…well, I am Prince Caldar," he was surprised to sound so unsure of himself, but he guessed it was the stress and the battle and the information that was still gnawing at his brain.

"How?" Hikaru whispered, "You sure look like Ascot to me."

He nodded, blushing softly, a very Ascot-like gesture, yet not completely the same. Umi watched him carefully, and knew he couldn't be Ascot. He was sitting casually on her bed, one hand lying on hers, but he didn't seem to notice, and that wasn't causing the blush. He was too natural around her to be Ascot, but then…how was he so casual with a stranger when he didn't seem to be comfortable under Hikaru and Fuu's penetrating gaze?

"I possessed his body," Caldar started, but couldn't get past his fourth word, because the tirade Clef had expected came, and Fuu and Hikaru could only wince with the impact of Umi's words.

"You did what?" she shrieked, ripping away from him, leaping from the bed to stand and face him, "How? And why? That's not yours for the taking, what makes you think you can just have his body? And where is he? I swear if you hurt him you'll seriously pay, and if you didn't, you'd better give his body back to him! You can't just take someone else's body!" her fists clenched, and they all knew she was about to draw her sword, despite her fatigue. The thing that stopped her was a pert impact to her head caused by Clef's staff. Maliciously, she spun on the Master Mage, met his raging blue eyes, and withdrew.

"Do you honestly think that I would let someone simply have the body of one of my students?" he demanded fiercely, leaving Umi spluttering for words. Finally, she relented and took a nervous seat next to Caldar, waiting for him to explain himself.

"Well, well, well, what have we here?" King Taro's voice smirked, a vicious sound, full of resentment and mild amusement. "It seems that my reject of a son really did manage to find and kill Mala and take the Water Knight as his prize."

Ascot's heart sank, what was that supposed to mean? Umi seriously wouldn't have fallen for someone that quickly, there was no way; he'd been chasing her for years! He tried not to let himself get too upset, but his hopes were dying every minute spent in this isolation. And that thief had his body! What if he never chose to give it back; was there a way that he could somehow take it, by force?

"I suppose that'll be his happily ever after then," Taro finished and sighed, "well, back to work on the seals."

I could,Ascot pondered, but stopped himself. No, that's wrong. He's a greater evil than he was before, and he did enough damage then. I just want Umi to be happy, I guess. I just always thought it could be with me, but…he tried to make himself think noble thoughts, but it just wasn't in him. He hated the selfishness and jealousy that tore through him, but he was only human, and he was in love. He couldn't just give up! But he couldn't resort to destroying all of Cephiro for her either. There had to be another way; there just had to be.

"But Mala's dead now, so you can give Ascot his body back," Umi informed Caldar calmly, crossing her nimble arms over her chest, and giving him the most thorough stare down he'd ever received in his life. It seemed that the Prince of Cephiro wasn't the only one who had changed since his time.

Caldar nodded, "I could, if Mala were the only problem. But, she's not. Actually, she wasn't much of the problem at all. Mala wasn't your real enemy; my father is, and his seals are loosening everyday. If he is freed, I don't know what he will do to Cephiro, or to you," he directed this at Umi, who involuntarily shuddered and snapped her jaw shut to whatever smart comment she was about to make.

"What can we do?" Fuu asked softly, and the Prince sighed and closed his eyes.

"First he'll need a body. When he breaks free he'll only be a spirit, and spirits can't live very long on their own. He'll need a body, and he'll probably want one with strong magical capabilities, but any body will do."

Fuu chewed on the information, and then decided there was only one course of action, "What if one of us offered him their body, and fought him internally?"

Caldar's eyes shot open; it seemed he hadn't thought of that, "The prison would be destroyed, so the spirit wouldn't have anywhere to flee to, yet…I suppose if that person were to offer to work with my father, it might work. Internal sabotage, but, he won't take a female body, not when he hungers after Umi so much. It'll have to be a male."

"I'll do it," the voice from the doorway made them all look, and there was Eagle, leaning casually against the doorframe, staring right into Hikaru's eyes as her mouth ran dry.

"Eagle," she whispered, choking on his name, begging with her eyes to reconsider.

"No, Eagle, I will go," Clef offered, but Eagle shook his head.

"I can't allow you to do that Guru," he responded as he strode into the room and took a seat on Hikaru's bed. "If something happens, I need to be sure that there is someone with enough magical ability to banish whatever is inside of me, and if you can't do it with magic, Lantis and Ferio will be here to do it with sword. I wouldn't expect you to have to do something so drastic Fire Faerie," he cupped Hikaru's face in his hand and forced his way into her trembling red eyes, making sure that she understood. They battled like that for what seemed like ages, until Hikaru nodded her consent, lowering her eyes as tears slipped from them, and Eagle wiped them away and pulled her into his arms.

But no one could argue with his logic, and after Hikaru agreed, no one would dare.

"Very well," Caldar sighed, "then we have only to wait. When I am better rested I will probe the seals with my magic and see how much time there is left until they weaken. After they collapse, I'll be able to tell, because it was my magic that set them. Father will immediately begin the search, and I will instruct you how to make yourself vulnerable and obvious. There will be things he'll look for, and I know what they are, so that we'll be sure he chooses you. From there, I can only tell you you'll need to rely on your own wits and magic. He's very strong; you probably won't be able to simply overpower him. I do hope you're clever."

Eagle smiled wanly, "I try my best."

Hikaru's grip on him tightened, and he gave her a quick, reassuring squeeze.

"In the meantime, we should do what we can to get to know our enemy," Clef stated, and they all agreed.

"But…what about Ascot?" Umi voiced quietly, and Caldar turned Ascot's green eyes on her.

"I…do not know what will happen to him after the seals break. I will stay in his body only long enough to ensure that my father is dead, and then I will fade away, but…if he fades before that…I cannot say I won't be tempted to keep the body of a dead spirit."

Umi gulped heavily when he looked at her like that, so desperate and hungry, drawing her forward, yet repulsing her with his words. That was Ascot he was talking about, her Ascot! "He's strong," she told him, setting her jaw. "He'll last, as long as you keep your word."

"You have my word as a Prince of Cephiro," he swore, and Umi rolled her eyes, but nodded and the two shook on it, though he held her hand a little too long, and kept her eyes the entire time.

I shouldn't feel this way about a woman that isn't even the same one I knew. Yet…there's a part of my Umi in there, there's a part of every Water Knight that has ever been in her body, she just doesn't know it. She feels it; I know she does.

But she feels something for the spirit who belongs to this body as well, the other part of his mind reminded him, you could hear it in her voice when she spoke to you. He wanted to tell this part of his mind to shut up, but knew he couldn't deny it. There was definitely something deeper to the emotions of the Water Knight, and as much as he wanted to, he knew he couldn't interfere with that. He closed his eyes and shut off the devious part of his body that was lusting after the beautiful girl before him, making sure that his desires didn't get the best of him. There were still things to be done.

A/n: Sorry, this really isn't edited, I just had to finish it before I went away. Please forgive me, I'm extremely busy with packing and last minute preparations, but I didn't want anyone to think I'd disappeared again, so...yeah...talk to you all when I get home!